Safe lock-bearing



(No Model.)

P. W. STAPLBTON & M. L. OARMODY.

SAFE LOCK BEARING.

No. 389,116. Patented Sept. 4, 1888,

UNITED STATES PATRICK XV. STAPLETON AND MICHAEL L. OARMODY, OF CHICAGO PATENT OFFICE.

ILLINOIS.

SAFE LOCK-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,116, dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed March 5, 1888. Serial No. 266,221 (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PATRICK W. STAPLE- TON and MICHAEL L. CARMODY, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Safe Lock-Bearing, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to lock-bearings as applied to swinging railroad-bridges and to all other swinging bridges, particularly to those made of iron or other substance liable to contraction and expansion by reason of changes oftempcrature; and the object of our invention is to provide a lock-bearing that will adjust itself to such contractions and expansions of an iron bridge and prevent any strain upon or liability of displacement of such lock-bearing by reason of such contractions or expansions, and firmly and securely hold the bridge at all times-in hot weather and in cold weather-so that the ends of the rails on the bridge will meet those on the abutments, respectively,in the same line and in the proper position for the safe passage of trains. We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a swinging railroad-bridge and the abutments at each end of the bridge, and four lock-bearings, one at each corner of the bridge, on the abutments on which the bridge rests when in position for the passage of trains. Fig. 2 shows one corner of the bridge and a vertical section of the lock-bearing as attached to the abutment, and the manner in which the lock-bolt c rests upon the lock-bearing and supports one corner of the swinging bridge. Fig. 3 is a horizontalview; and Fig. i is a vertical section of the lockbearing, showing their several parts and their combination.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The bed-plate is fastened to the abutments E by the bolts or anchors a.

B is a sliding plate attached to A by bolts I), having slots 1), which allow certain lateral motion to B.

G is a sliding plate joined by dovetail to B, as shown by dovetail c.

D is a lock-bolt hole in c, and d is a washer fitted in D.

G is a lock-bolt,which rests in D on washer (Z, and supports one corner of the bridge g.

\Vhenever the bridge is in position for the passage of trains, each of its four corners is supported by look-bolts a, resting on lockbearing, as above explained. The expansion and contraction of an iron bridge is sufficient to break and detach from the abutment a nonadjustable lock-bearing; but our invention overcomes and neutralizes this great power of expansion and contraction without losing any of its efficiency as a loek-bearingthat is to say, the lateral expansion and contraction of the bridge is met by a corresponding lateral movement of the sliding plate B, which said lateral movement is allowed by the slots b, and any lengthening or shortening of the bridge is met by a corresponding movement of the sliding plate 0, which is joined by dovetail to B, so that it can move lengthwise and adjust itself to the length of the bridge. These movements can be allowed without destroying the efficiency of the lock-bearing, for the reason that the plate 0 can be so snugly dovetailed to B, and B so securely fastened to A by means of the bolts b, that nothing but the expansive and contracting force of the iron bridge will move them. By means of the lockbolt hole D the lateral movement of the bridge is prevented, and the washer (I, kept thoroughl y oiled,tends to lessen friction and secure a certain amount of leverage.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the bed-plate A,fir:nly anchored to the abutment,with sliding plate B, attached to A by bolts 1), with slots 1), and sliding plate 0, dovetailed to B, having lockbolt hole D, with washer d, fitted in hole D, adapted to the reception of lock-bolt c, supporting the bridge, substantially as set forth, and for the uses and purposes above set forth.

2. The combination, with the abutment and 1" thebridge,of a movable supporting-plate upon vertically-adjustable screw-bolt tapered at its :0 the former, a vertically-adj ustable bolt upon end to engage the tapering socket of the plate the latter, and devices upon said plate and for its adjustment, substantially as described. bolt whereby the latter will adjust the posi- 5 tion of the former in the different conditions of the bridge, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the plates upon \Vitnesses: the abutment united in such manner that the J OHN R. PARKER, upper one is movable in any direction, of the CHARLES F. TEMPLETON. 

